Laptop

[Trueblu]

Have you taken your Laptop with you on a long ride? How does it fare on the Bike and where do you pack it. Did you find many WIFI friendly camp sites? Thinking of taking mine with me on our May Canada to Mexico Trip, it fits real good, case and all, into the Givi Maxima Top Box.

[Mellow]

I've never taken mine. Mostly, because it belongs to work. But, I also didn't want the hasle of dealing with it. I've seen a few bikers with them.

I've seen a few campground w/wifi but I think think they were the more commercials ones. The Iron Horse MC Campground had one.

I'm sure it will just be a matter of time before it's more widespread...

I wouldn't mind bringing one just so I can upload pics to the pc and start a ride report in a standalone document for when I get back.

If you do take it, let us know how well it worked out for you.

[Trekker]

I too would be interested in hearing about wi-fi campgrounds. I agree it's just a matter of time. I would assume a padded case would protect the unit well enough.

I am just starting to search for a small lightweight laptop for road use. In this case small is the main criteria. Just a unit for email, web surfing, downloading digital pics & such. Of course, then recharging the batteries becomes a concern. I suppose a 12V outlet could be placed in the box where the laptop is stored for charging while riding.

[Mellow]

Heck, before long a cell phone/pda will probably handle everything for us.

[Trekker]

Like a Blackberry? Yeah, I suppose so. A PDA connecting through a cell connection might be a costly call when roaming. And there are lots of places with no cell signals. It will all catch up with time I'm sure.

[Mark]

I have taken laptops on a couple of day and over nighters; the company want me to have access. It fit in the ST1100 side bags but not in the ST1300's; so, I suggest you measure and check before you buy one planning to carry on your rides.

I haven't seen many campgrounds with wifi either.
The Sprintpcs Treo 650 says that it can be used as a modem for a laptop. I have only had the phone for 2 weeks and have not tried it.

Mark

[Mellow]

There's a trend in laptops to make them even smaller.

Might be worth getting one of the smaller ones to allow easier packing.

This one is just a little over 8x10
http://reviews.cnet.com/Lenovo_ThinkPad_X60s/4505-3121_7-31786426.html?tag=sub

I think there are some out there 1/2 the size of the typical laptop, I can't find any info. right now but I'll post as soon as I do.

[Trailace]

On long rides I would take my Laptop with me but now that I have and better GPS and big flash card for the camera I really don?t have a need.

[number9]

I 2nd that. I have access to a little Toshiba R100 to take on my trip out west. Battery life on those isn't the greatest though so then I have to think about where to pack the charger and where/when to recharge it. I still might take it, but I will be picking up a 2610 in the next couple weeks and will probably go ahead and pick up a 1gb card for the camera and then wouldn't really need to worry about the laptop issues.

[wengland]

Once I did - worked great until Windows had a BSOD and I just gor frustrated, powered it off and shut the lid. Packed it back on the bike and rode another 2 or 3 days before trying it again. Well, by shutting it down during a BSOD, the hard drive never parked the heads, and the hard drive was toast. Bleh. Fortunately, I got the data off it, so no great loss.

Always properly shut the computer down before packing it away.

[Mark]

I'm slowly losing the need for taking a laptop along on rides too.
My Treo 650 has web access so I can check maps using google or mapquest, and it uses SD cards.
The SD card is important because the camera uses the same and I can store one card in the phone and use the other in camera.
Lots of pictures in 2 1g or 2 2g SD cards... even at ~1m for each photo.

Mark

[Alan]

Don't let my boss think that I could carry a laptop on vacation!! My vacation is to get away and hauling the computer with me would ruin it for me.

I do carry my work IBM ThinkPad back and forth between work and home every day. It just fits into my ST1300 saddle bag. I couldn't take it on a long trip because it takes too much of my luggage space.

[mongo]

Don't let my boss think that I could carry a laptop on vacation!! My vacation is to get away and hauling the computer with me would ruin it for me.

I have to agree with Alan on this. They tell me to keep my company cell with me all of the time anyway. Although that isn't without benefits :) I don't own one personally, so I can put up with the occaisional call on issues, they would have me clearing errors and doing routing if they found out I could carry a PC on trips.

[rbertalotto]

Here's my "Moto Office"

http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/motorcycle/motorcycle-projects/mobile-computer-system/

[Ironheadziggy76]

Here's my "Moto Office"

http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/motorcycle/motorcycle-projects/mobile-computer-system/

WOW! That is one awesome set up! P^

[Black and Blue]

Here's my "Moto Office"

http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/motorcycle/motorcycle-projects/mobile-computer-system/

:wow1:is all I have to say.P^

[HOGCDR]

Many threads on laptops and now the smaller netbooks for mototravell. I have a Lenevo Thinkpad 12" but looking at the Acer 8". They can be purchaced for $250-$300 depending on your setup. I use mine for changing routes on the Garmin 550. If a good smartphone could load Mapsource then the laptop or netbook is nolong needed.

[rbertalotto]

THANKS!

Lots of folks ask why I went through all the trouble of developing the "Moto Office"........I could use some other much smaller device for simple emails. But I like a nearly full size keyboard for on the road ride reports and a large screen is great for picture viewing and uploading to by various blogs.

Having 120V on the bike is a great convenience. I can't tell you how many times I've used it. And the ability to have a nice fresh supply of AA batteries on a long trip is great.

The Aux battery will allow upwards of 8 hours of computer use and the solar panel keeps the aux battery charged even on cloudy days.

[Black and Blue]

Just today we saw a BMW M/C towing a Uni-Go Trailer with a solar panel mounted on the top. Are these small panels becoming more common place or are they being specifically made with the moto world in mind? Inquiring minds wants to know:D Technology.P^

[bigTom]

I saw one the other day that was specific to the ATC world. Wally World, I think. Nice compact looking thing, actually.

[superfish]

I use a HP tc1100 tablet (Has a keyboard or use the stylus). I carry it in the tail bag that sits on the seat and leans against the sissy bar. Carried it on my 5k mile trip in 2007 and will take it again this May.

USE:
store all routes for the GPS
Easier to create new routes on bigger screen than the GPS
Move pictures from camera to PC
Can get on internet with Wifi or at my kids houses
I have a dozen movies on there for the evenings
I was there when IBM made their first PC - I feel lonely with out it
On line banking
I'm retired don't need to worry about the boss

BTW: If you are considering taking a PC look at a program call CEEDO. You can carry your "Desktop" On a USB drive and plug it into any Windows PC and work with your own programs on another computer. I of course have no connection with this company just really like the program.

[roger123]

I recently got an Asus Eee1000HE, it's got a 10" screen and a HD. Pretty neat little machine, battery lasts forever, I just use it around the house for surfing the web. It would be perfect for MC trips as well if you really wanted a laptop to take along.

I also have an Iphone that does alot of stuff as well.

[ImRubicon]

I look at PC's all week so I try not to look at it on the weekend .but it is a part of life now so I have taken a Dell ATG 620 and a handheld OQO mostly for mapping, and some movies. My new work PC has a cell card built in so I can take it now also

[VIVID1]

I take my laptop on the long trips, although most of the campsites I stay at don’t have Wi-Fi. I usually use it on that occasional day when I’m staying in a motel or a friends house.

I have a soft case for my laptop, and place it in the top case on top of my camping pillow and other soft items with the tent on top of it. On my last moto-camping trip I even watched a movie on my laptop inside my tent (well, until my battery died). Next time I do that again I’ll get an electric campsite P^